Taliban claim responsibility behind Wardak bombing

At least 2 Afghan civilians were killed and 90 others including women and children were injured following a suicide bomb blast in Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan on Friday, Taliban group claimed responsibility behind the incident saying that the attack was carried out to avenge the execution of the Taliban group members by the Afghan government.

Provincial governor spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the incident took place around 7:30 am in Maidan Shahr central city of Wardak province and the main target of the suicide bomber was Afghan and coalition security forces.

Local authorities said the explosion took place near a joint military base used by Afghan and NATO troops.

Shahidullah Shahid said around 40 people were injured in the blast however another local official Abdul Wali said over 60 people were injured and two others were killed.

In the meantime Ghulam Farooq Mukhlis provincial hospital chief said around 90 people injured in the blast were taken to the hospital which includes 75 men and 15 women while the others were taken to the private hospitals.

A spokesman for International Security Assistance Force also said around 6 NATO troops were slightly injured in the blast.

Maidan Wardak province is located in the south of capital Kabul where militants are actively operating in a number of districts and Afghan and NATO troops are conducting operations on routine basis to end militancy in this province.

Taliban group said the attack was carried out to avenge the execution of 4 Taliban members in Kabul.

Zabiullah Mujahid a spokesman for the Taliban group said the attack was carried out by a Taliban fighter and a military base was targeted.

4 Taliban group members were among the 16 prisoners were hanged to death by the Afghan government.